GSNP Part III: Fall Colors

We enjoyed the Fall colors in the Smokies, and were a little worried about all of the traffic we had heard about in the park during October. We seemed to miss it all though (thanks to our early morning alarm clock named Isaac). I wouldn't have believed the horror stories if I hadn't seen for myself the 5+ mile line of bumper-to-bumper traffic leading to the park entrance. Luckily, we were already on our way home!

Isaac can crawl!

GSNP Part II: Clingman's Dome Part I

These are photos from our Clingman's Dome 'hike.' You can park about 0.5 miles from the top and walk on a paved trail to a lookout point. Clingman's Dome is the 3rd highest peak east of the Mississippi. It was a whopping 6,000 ft or so. It was freezing cold and windy, but the view was spectacular thanks to the elaborate lookout point they constructed. I can't figure out how to make Picasa post more than 4 pictures at a time, so the rest of the pictures from that day will be in subsequent posts.


Mom by the parking lot overlook and Lance and Isaac on the Appalachian Trail.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Part I

This is why they are called the Smokies:


An old cabin at Cade's Cover:



My Mom's arm after she took a spill on one of our hikes. Lance and I were MUCH more concerned about it than she was. She seemed to think it was no big deal. It has been a week since she did it and now it is black and blue and still numb...

Sunday Stroll

My mom came to visit 2 weeks ago, thus the lack of blogging. We enjoyed a nice Sunday stroll when she got here on the Natchez Trace Parkway. We have enjoyed such beautiful Fall weather!

Bath Time

At least Isaac had a little fun after his post-4-day blowout.

Radnor Lake

Lance was in San Diego for the first part of this week, so Isaac and I took advantage of having the car for a few days. We went on a short hike around Radnor Lake (Isaac took his first ride in his new backpack). We saw lots of deer and some wild turkeys (I'll spare you the obscure photos). We also went on a bike ride out by the airport before picking up Lance at Shelby Bottoms Greenway. We had fun while Daddy was gone, but are glad to have him home!

Weeeeeeeeeeeee

So, I thought Isaac was napping because he was in his crib...and it was very quiet. But, when I peeked in, he was wide awake and just kicking his little noisemaker. He even manages to turn it on occasionally with his feet!

We went to the park today on our walk, and Isaac really likes the swings. My little guy is growing up!

Latest Project

I have spent a lot of time (and money) at the local Michael's store lately. This is how I fill my days when I have no car and the store is within walking distance... I've been wanting to make a "Quiet Book" for Isaac, but lack confidence and ability in the sewing department, so I made him an activity book out of paper and laminated it with contact paper and reinforced the holes with metal eyelets. Each shape is attached with velcro so he can practice matching and there is a little pouch on in the inside cover to store the smaller shapes on the last two pages. I stayed up really late last night working on it and was excited to show it to Isaac this morning. Much to my satisfaction, he laughed out loud every time I'd tear the shapes off the page. I like how it turned out, and I think Isaac will like it too!

Frog-a-holic

So, I found this little friend on the fence in our backyard. I love frogs (you may or may not have noticed that Isaac is wearing the same froggy pajamas in the last several posts...it is by chance alone, though. I do actually put him in clean clothes.) Here are a few more snapshots. Isaac is finally getting better at sitting up. He'll be 8 months old next week!

Land Between the Lakes

We took our first family camping trip last weekend at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The park is half in Tennessee and half in Kentucky. We went to the Kentucky side and camped at Energy Lake. We weren't sure the weather would cooperate since it poured our whole way up there, and for a little while after we got there.

Luckily we got pointed to Aurora Bar-b-que in Aurora, KY for lunch. I wish I snapped a shot of the outside! It was an awesome greasy spoon joint that was SOOOO redneck Southern it wasn't even funny. Lance and I hated to leave, we were so entertained. One of my favorite parts was the menu. They had a special that included a BBQ sandwich and 2 veggies. I wasn't in the mood for carrots and celery, so I skipped over it. As I read further, I came to the veggies section. You could choose from: french fries, onion rings, corn nuggets (yes, fried corn), and fried pickles. We had their onions rings (SOOO good) and tried the corn nuggets (also surprisingly good). Just as we were leaving, a family came in raving about their milkshakes...we stopped dead in our tracks (as we are both dessert-a-holics). We couldn't leave without ordering a chocolate peanut butter shake (which was almost too good). I was so full all day that I didn't even want dinner, which is not like me. The employees there were pretty funny. too. We told them we might stop at Clarkesville on the way home and they told us we HAD to go to the Harbor Freight store. She claimed if they ever went anywhere, they went to the Harbor Freight store and it was not to be missed. I had heard of Harbor Freight, but when I got home I saw their ad in our Sunday paper and it is a cheap hardward store chain...I'm glad we missed it. They were so friendly there, I think we'll have to go back!

I couldnt' resist snapping a shot of the Choking poster...there were 2 in the restaurant. People, you have got to stop inhaling your corn nuggets!

Isaac chilling in our new family car camping tent.

Funky Humpty Dumpty

Seriously, this is so funny.  Kohl did an awesome job. Feel free to share this with anyone that needs a good laugh.

Labor Day

I was so happy to have a good old fashioned weenie roast in Mom's back yard...ahhh, the smell of campfire. Everyone made it except for Anna (who oddly enough ended up with pink eye), and Kristin & Brock and family.